Comments on: User View Datapoint Raises Questions, Ire

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 00:00:00 +0000

This data show that the internet is for real in the local space — something we've been reporting on for some time.

Time to devote some more resources (including budget) to product development as well as marketing.

The online world of local is way way more competitive than what print YP and newspapers are used to.

Time to get busy rather than questioning the veracity of the data (which is sound).

Believe me, we were quite surprised ourselves.

By: Brutus

Brutus — Sat, 26 Mar 2005 00:00:00 +0000

I agree with Caligula. It isn't likely that a telco person will run this operation with the kind of creative thinking and execution that will allow YellowPages.com to compete with the Googles and Yahoos of the world. At the very least C.Stubbs needs to be able to operate without the bureaucracy of SBC/BS hanging over him. And he needs REAL incentives in the form of carrots not sticks. Do DP and IH have the capability of giving him management freedom? Does CS have the tools?

By: Caligula

Caligula — Sat, 26 Mar 2005 00:00:00 +0000

You say the publishers fail to realize they can't solve their problems with their own people. To take that general comment to a specific example, I believe the YellowPages.com deal will succeed only if a tech- and media-savvy outsider is brought in to run it, paid well, given equity and most of all given autonomy. The heads of BAPCO and SBCDO have to be willing to see someone get more money and more glory than they do in order for this thing to be successful.

By: Nero

Nero — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 00:00:00 +0000

The more the publisher's fiddle, the more the industry will go up in smoke. They want the Internet, this very disruptive technology, to go away, but it isn't.
The question is who can help the Romans see the errors of their ways? What are some of these errors?
1.Lack of urgency;
2.No interest on their management's part to make the necessary investment in the future;
3.Too few partnerships with real search players;
4.Believing they can solve their problems with their own people;
5.Denial….